Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round predictions

NHL.com experts have made their predictions for the
Stanley Cup Playoffs
and they believe the best team in the regular season will rule in the postseason as well.

Ten of the 15 staff members who made predictions picked the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the
Presidents' Trophy
with 128 points and became the second team in NHL history to win 62 games in a season, to hoist the
Stanley Cup
at the end of the playoffs.
Five of the 10 to pick the Lightning predicted goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most valuable player in the postseason. Forward Brayden Point was picked by three writers and forward Nikita Kucherov was picked by two.
The Boston Bruins, who finished tied with the Calgary Flames for second in points (107), were picked by three staff members to win the Stanley Cup. The Flames and Nashville Predators each got one vote.
Here are NHL.com's picks for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Jets
Conn Smythe Trophy: Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

Tim Campbell, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR:Toronto Maple Leafs
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Flames over Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe Trophy:Johnny Gaudreau, Flames

Brian Compton, NHL.com deputy managing editor

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Bruins over Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy:Brad Marchand, Bruins

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, NHL.com columnist

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR:Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Dallas Stars
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Flames
Conn Smythe Trophy:Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

William Douglas, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Toronto Maple Leafs
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Predators
Conn Smythe Trophy:Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Tom Gulitti, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR:Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR:Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks
NSH vs. DAL: Dallas Stars
WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Bruins over Sharks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

Pete Jensen, NHL.com senior fantasy editor

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Bruins over Sharks
Conn Smythe Trophy:Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com deputy managing editor

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Jets
Conn Smythe Trophy:Brayden Point, Lightning

Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy:Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Tracey Myers, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS. vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Blues
Conn Smythe Trophy:Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Bill Price, NHL.com Editor-in-Chief

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS. vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: New York Islanders
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: San Jose Sharks
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Predators over Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy:Ryan Johansen, Predators

Shawn Roarke, NHL.com Senior Director of Editorial

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL:Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Predators
Conn Smythe Trophy:Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Dan Rosen, NHL.com senior writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT:New York Islanders
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL:Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Dallas Stars
WPG vs. STL:St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup Final: Lightning over Blues
Conn Smythe Trophy: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Dave Stubbs, NHL.com columnist

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ: Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR: Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR: Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL: Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL:Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Jets
Conn Smythe Trophy:Brayden Point, Lightning

Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com staff writer

Eastern Conference First Round
TBL vs. CBJ:Tampa Bay Lightning
BOS vs. TOR:Boston Bruins
WSH vs. CAR:Washington Capitals
NYI vs. PIT: Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference First Round
CGY vs. COL:Calgary Flames
SJS vs. VGK: Vegas Golden Knights
NSH vs. DAL: Nashville Predators
WPG vs. STL: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup Final:Lightning over Predators
Conn Smythe Trophy:Brayden Point, Lightning

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